Otitis externa, also called swimmer's ear, is an unpleasant ear infection that can trouble your best friend. Pet owners should not attempt to diagnose the source of the problem themselves. A veterinarian can best find the cause of irritation or infection and offer the proper treatment. Attempts by an owner to treat a dog's ears can lead to additional trauma or damage and allow the condition to worsen. Serious ear problems might lead to severe pain, inflammation or loss of hearing.
Things You'll Need
- Cotton balls
- Cleaning solution
Instructions
Know your pet. If your dog has a type of ear that is routinely troublesome, become familiar with the issues associated with canine ears and check your dog's ears weekly to detect changes. Floppy, long or hanging ears are prone to problems because they trap moisture in the ear canal. Moisture creates conditions favorable to the growth of irritating microorganisms.
Watch your pet for signs of trouble. If your dog experiences a sudden change in behavior, seems dizzy, favors her ears, displays frequent head shaking or tilting or has redness, swelling or discharge present in her ears, she might have an ear infection.
Take your dog to the vet at the first sign of a problem. Only a veterinarian is qualified to diagnose an ear issue. Dog's ears have a canal that is longer and differently constructed than that of our own. You can only see part of the canal, which has two chambers and makes a 45 degree angle deeper inside his jaw.
Allow the vet to prescribe and apply any treatments. The vet will remove any foreign body and swab the ears to check for the presence of yeast, bacteria and mites as needed. In addition to anti-fungal and and antibiotic medications, the vet might flush the dog's ears with a solution to kill any microbes and dry the ear canal. The vet might give you a topical medication to continue treatment at home.
Treat your dog's ears routinely with a cotton ball and a veterinarian-recommended cleansing agent. Flush the ear with the cleaning agent by first raising the flap, then depositing the solution in the bottom of the ear canal.
Massage the base of the ears in order to work the cleansing agent into all areas. A gentle squish sound will let you know you have applied enough of the agent. Cleaners rid the ear canal of moisture and make the environment unpleasant for microorganisms. Treat your pet once a week when the weather is warm, per vet recommendation, or after a bath or swim.
Gently swab the cleansing agent out of the ears with the cotton balls.
Check for signs of trouble each time you treat your pet's ears. A foul odor, excess wax buildup, mats of hair or an obvious negative change in the ear is a sign that should be addressed.
Be alert for and responsive to damage your dog might inflict due to ear pain or itching, such as trauma to the ear flap.